Transcript The Barmen Declaration

Whose responsibility is it
to care for the earth?
We believe that:
God created
the heavens
and the earth.
God took the man
and put him in the
Garden of Eden to
work it and take
care of it.
The earth is
the Lord’s,
and everything
in it.
God so loved
the world….
…all things have
been created
through him and
for him.
Problem?
What problem?
The Barmen Declaration
“To clasp the hands in prayer is
the beginning of an uprising
against the disorder of the world.”
Karl Barth
Is climate change a
confessional issue?
A confession is a decision of the church
to take up the struggle at a particular
time, and it involves repentance on the
part of the church.
•Climate change now threatens the well-being of
life on earth
•The current global economy is the principal driver
of climate change
•The Church appears far too happy to side with the
global economy.
Wide support
"This prophetic document from 'Operation
Noah' comes at a kairos moment for the
Churches, as a second Earth Summit is
being prepared ….
For Christians, the themes of this
statement - joy, repentance, hope, justice
and so on - are not optional: they are at
the heart of our identity as Church.
Mary Grey, theologian and writer
Find joy in creation!
‘How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all; the
earth is full of your creatures…
Psalm 104:24
‘The love of God
shed abroad in
our hearts by the
Holy Spirit,’
(Romans 5:5)
overflows in our
love and care for
all God’s
creatures.
Listen!
‘I appointed watchmen over you and said;
“Listen to the sound of the trumpet!”’ Jer. 6:17
Prophets are those who speak
uncomfortable truth to their generation.
Repent!
‘Jesus said; “The time has come. The kingdom
of God has come near. Repent and believe the
good news!”’ Mark 1:15
God grieves over the
destruction of creation
and so should we.
Take responsibility
Humans, made in God’s
image, have unique
responsibility for the
wellbeing of creation.
Genesis 1:26, 2:15
We must use our power
wisely to promote the
flourishing of future
generations and the
diversity of life on earth.
Act Justly
‘The Lord loves righteousness and justice;’
Ps. 33:5
Love our neighbours
‘So in everything,
do to others what
you would have
them do to you,
for this sums up
the Law and the
Prophets.’
Matt. 7:12
Act with hope!
‘May the God of
hope fill you with all
joy and peace as
you trust in him, so
that you may
overflow with hope
by the power of the
Holy Spirit.’
Romans 15:13
Ash Wednesday Declaration
Sign the pledge
Find resources to help
spread the word:
www.operationnoah.org
“The ultimate test of a
moral society is the kind
of world that it leaves to
its children.”
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer